This week, the Duchess of Kent will be celebrating her 90th Birthday! The Baronet’s daughter who married the late Queen’s first cousin and was a working royal for over 40 years before retiring from royal duties, the Duchess possessed some spectacular heirloom Jewels, many of which we have featured over the years, though we reserved some special jewels for her 90th Birthday, continuing our series by featuring the Duchess of Kent’s Diamond and Pearl Suite!
Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara | Cambridge Sapphire Parure | Aquamarine Tiara | Diamond and Pearl Suite | Pearl Earrings | Art Deco Brooch | Girandole Earrings | Diamond Flower Suite | Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch | Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch | Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch | The Duchess of Kent’s Tiaras | The Jewels of the Duchess of Kent | 90 Facts about the Duchess of Kent
A striking suite composed of a necklace of alternating round pearls with pave-set diamond elements, which culminates into a detachable diamond pendant from which a round pearl is suspended, as well as a pair of earrings each with one central pearl and three pearl pendants, the provenance of the suite is unknown, but it was likely acquired from Garrard at some point in the early 1980s.
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Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
The Duchess of Kent began wearing the Earrings from her Suite in the early 1980s, with the necklace appearing a few years later. Notable appearances, almost always with the the Kent Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara, include the State Opening of Parliament and the 21st Birthday Gala at Windsor Castle in 1985, the Spanish State Banquet at Windsor Castle in 1986, the State Opening of Parliament in 1987, Crown Prince Harald’s 50th Birthday at the Royal Palace of Oslo in 1987, and a Banquet at Claridge’s Hotel in 1989.
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Embed from Getty Images
In 1992, the Duchess of Kent’s Diamond and Pearl Suite was worn by her only daughter, Lady Helen Windsor, for her Wedding to Tim Taylor at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, with the Suite and the Kent Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara inspiring designer Catherine Walker to create the embroidery on her wedding gown.
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The Duchess of Kent continued to wear her Diamond and Pearl Suite through the 1990s, including for the Polish State Banquet at Windsor Castle in 1991, the State Opening of Parliament and the Brunei State Visit to Britain in 1992, and the Malaysian State Visit to Britain in 1993. The Duke and Duchess of Kent hit financial difficulties in the mid-1990s and several jewels were sold, which probably included this Suite as it does seem to have been worn anytime afterwards.
Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara | Cambridge Sapphire Parure | Aquamarine Tiara | Diamond and Pearl Suite | Pearl Earrings | Art Deco Brooch | Girandole Earrings | Diamond Flower Suite | Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch | Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch | Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch | The Duchess of Kent’s Tiaras | The Jewels of the Duchess of Kent | 90 Facts about the Duchess of Kent
